Biomedical subjects

Aini Ostamo

Publications and source records attributed to Aini Ostamo.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Time patterns of attempted suicide.

BACKGROUND: The association of mental disorders with time patterns of attempted suicide is poorly understood. METHODS: The study material consisted of all consecutive suicide attempts admitted to health care in Helsinki during a one-year period from 15 January 1997 to 14 January 1998. Clinical diagnosis was made according to ICD-10. RESULTS: Overall, the rate of suicide attempts varied markedly during the study period, peaking in autumn and being lowest during winter. Substance use disorders best explained suicide attempts occurring at weekends. There was considerable temporal variation among patients with mood disorders, compared to only slight variation among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Study subjects tended to contact health services in the late evening and around midnight. Those contacting health services outside normal hours received psychiatric consultation less frequently than others and were referred to aftercare less often. LIMITATIONS: Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I and II Disorders were not used. CONCLUSIONS: There were marked time patterns of attempted suicide, especially among patients with mood disorders and substance use disorders. This contrasted with the limited fluctuation among patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Contacts with the health care system occurred most often in the late evening and around midnight. The findings question the adequacy of staff numbers for psychiatric consultations and of time to plan aftercare.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Level of suicidal intent predicts overall mortality and suicide after attempted suicide: a 12-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to comprehensively examine clinical risk factors, including suicide intent and hopelessness, for suicide and risk of death from all causes after attempted suicide over a 12-year follow-up period. METHODS: A systematic sample of 224 patients from consecutive cases of attempted suicide referred to health care in four Finnish cities between 1 January and 31 July 1990 was interviewed. RESULTS: After 12 years of follow-up 22% of these patients had died, 8% by committing suicide. The only statistically significant risk factor for eventual suicide was high scores on Beck's Suicidal Intention Scale. Male gender, older age, physical illness or disability and high scores on Beck's Suicidal Intention Scale predicted death overall. CONCLUSIONS: Following attempted suicide, high intention to kill oneself is a significant risk factor for both death from all causes and suicide.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Patients' evaluation of their psychiatric consultation after attempted suicide.

Few studies have previously investigated patients' evaluation of their psychiatric consultation after attempted suicide. The aim of the present study was to examine the patients' view of their psychiatric consultation after a suicide attempt. Of a systematic sample of 114 suicide attempters in Helsinki, 73 subjects were referred to psychiatric consultation at an emergency room or department, and 53 of these evaluated the consultation received. Half of these suicide attempters considered their psychiatric consultation had occurred too soon after the attempt. Those whose prior attitude toward the consultation was indifferent had higher Hopelessness Scale (HS) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores than those who were positive. Psychiatric assessment should not take place before the patient has recovered from toxic effects caused by any overdose attempt. Suicide attempters with severe depression and hopelessness are likely to be those most indifferent to the prospect of psychiatric consultation. The presence of severe depression or hopelessness should not deter active evaluation and treatment.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Determinants of attempted suicide in urban environment.

This paper investigates, first, the differences in attempted-suicide rates among men and women between urban districts and, second, the association between regional characteristics and attempted-suicide rates. The data cover all attempted suicides referred to healthcare in 1989 and 1997 in Helsinki, Finland. There are clear and persistent differences in the attempted-suicide rates between the studied districts. Although female rates increased in all seven districts from 1989 to 1997, their mutual relationships remain similar. There are more changes among men both within and between the districts. Socio-economic disadvantage within the districts was associated with higher attempted-suicide rates. We conclude that socio-economic characteristics and their changes over time in the districts are likely to affect the suicidal behaviour of men more than women. Improving the employment status and structural position, especially of men, would probably prove to be important for the prevention of attempted suicide.

Female↗